Be you are ready for hurricane season

Cleaning storm shutters with soapy water and rinsing well with fresh water is one of several steps homeowners should take to ensure their hurricane protection will be in working order in the event of a hurricane.

Maureen Nicolace

VERO BEACH - If you lived in Indian River County during the storms of 2004, chances are you are now fully prepared to greet the next unwelcome hurricane that may come along. Those who did not have hurricane protection for their home before 2004 have long-since protected their home's openings, and the good news is that you probably haven't had to use them very much since they were installed.

The not-so-good-news is that if you have not used your hurricane protection at all in recent years, and if you haven't even given them a second thought since they were first installed, you may not be as prepared as you think you are.

Here's why: There are a number of steps homeowners should take by way of basic shutter maintenance so that their shutters are ready when they're needed. When you're rushed trying to beat a storm is not the time to find out something won't fit right. For instance, a house may settle and the tracks for hurricane shutters no longer match up for an easy, perfect fit. Or lawn equipment has bumped into a track and bent it. To help prevent unwanted problems, Tom Pease, owner of Florida Shutters offers these helpful tips:

1. Clean all shutters with soapy water and rinse well with fresh water (especially important if you live near the ocean with its salty sea-air).

2. All screws in the Colonial and Bahama Shutters should be lubricated and installed only finger tight (if they're too tight, they may not unscrew easily).

3. After cleaning, Accordion Shutters should have the wheels and locks lubed with a spray lubricant.

4. Re-install any screws where you might have removable tracks for Storm Panels to keep dust, dirt and insects out.

5. Run Rolling Shutters up and down several ties after cleaning to align the slats and heat up the motors.

As the 2013 hurricane season begins, take a moment now to check your hurricane protection to be sure it's ready when you need it.

Florida Shutters has been offering hurricane protection since 1979 and manufactures its own hurricane protection products at its factory and showroom at 1055 Commerce Avenue, Vero Beach. For more helpful tips, they can be contacted directly at 772-569-2200, or visit them online at www.floridashuttersinc.com.

This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm.